Clarity

Clarity is used to describe the imperfections of a diamond, either within the diamond or on the surface. An imperfection found within a diamond is referred to as an inclusion and an imperfection found on the surface of a diamond is referred to as a blemish.

A perfect stone, with perfect clarity, is extremely rare. Therefore, the majority of diamonds have inclusions. Bear in mind that most imperfections cannot be seen with the naked eye and are judged by skilled gemologist using 10X magnification.

For the best clarity value, Quest recommends that you choose a diamond that is “eye clean” and does not have inclusions visible to the naked eye. Quest Fine Jewelers only offers diamonds from the Flawless to SI2 range and excludes diamonds that are graded I1 & I2.

The following clarity scale represents the range of diamonds that are offered at Quest Fine Jewelers:

Flawless (FL): This is the highest grade for a diamond. The “flawless grading indicates the stone has no internal inclusions or external blemishes when viewed under a microscope with extreme magnification. Diamonds with this grade are very rare.

Internally Flawless (IF): This describes stones with no interior imperfection, but that have minor surface blemishes, which can be seen under magnification. Diamonds with the internally flawless grade of clarity are also rare.

Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS1 & VVS2): This grading rates stones that have tiny inclusions, which are difficult to detect even with ten-power magnification. The stones appear pristine to even the best trained professionals.

Very Slightly Included (VS1 & VS2): These diamonds have a few small inclusions that cannot be detected by the naked eye and are difficult to see even under high magnification. VS1- and VS2-grade diamonds offer an outstanding value in clarity, as they are visually free of blemishes, but are less expensive than higher clarity grades.

Slightly Included (S1 & S2): These diamonds contain inclusions, but they are not detectable to the untrained eye. This is especially true when the stone is mounted. SI1- and SI2-grade diamonds are better options for the budget-conscious shopper. Because they are not as rare as VS1- and VS2-grade diamonds, they are less expensive, while still truly beautiful.